View the full report HERE
As Long Island businesses continue to struggle amid the COVID-19 pandemic—combined with an increasingly challenged brick-and-mortar retail sector prior to the pandemic—land use across Nassau and Suffolk counties could be altered significantly during the post-COVID-19 economy. On September 15, 2020, the LIRPC released a study analyzing how major land uses on Long Island are likely to change fundamentally over the near- and long-term for housing, retail, restaurants and entertainment venues, office, light industrial, and recreation.
Key impacts and opportunities from the study include:
- Demand will increase for housing with multi-generation living and slightly larger than the multi-family rentals that have seen explosive growth over the past decade.
- Zoning must adapt to the growing demand for live-work housing.
- Envision a mix of uses for obsolescent shopping malls and retail centers.
- Grow “pop-up” retail in downtowns with significant vacancies due to the economic tumult.
- Repurpose a number of large suburban office parks.
- Light industrial demand will remain strong, as ecommerce and same- or next-day delivery demand increases.
- Municipal parks and trails will benefit from an increase in use, as residents seek safe recreational alternatives to indoor facilities.
View the full report HERE
